Bishops want word on Secrecy Bill

South Africa

Friday 26 April 2013 - 9:47am

File: Demonstrators protest against the passing of the Protection of Information Bill outside parliament in Cape Town, November 22, 2011.

CAPE TOWN - The Southern African Catholics Bishops' Conference (SACBC) has joined calls for President Jacob Zuma to refer the controversial Protection of State Information Bill to the Constitutional Court.

While there had been dramatic changes to the bill, it remained an "unsatisfactory piece of legislation", Catholic Archbishop of Cape Town Stephen Brislin said on Friday.

"It lacks a full public interest defence and will thus make the fight against corruption more difficult," he said.

"To fight corruption we need more openness, not more secrecy."

The SACBC wanted Zuma to send the bill to the Constitutional Court to avoid a protracted and costly court battle.

"On the eve of the celebration of Freedom Day, there is an opportunity for President Zuma to subject this bill to the Constitutional Court for further deliberation and so to protect the democracy which we all cherish," said Breslin.

Opposition parties and civil society organisations have indicated they intend launching a legal challenge should Zuma sign the contentious bill into law.

Parliament passed the proposed law on Thursday, after three years of debate and redrafting.